Nanotechnology Risk Assessment and Management

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Hazard of Concern
Risk Assessment Boundaries
The Persons at Risk
Pathways and Routes of Exposure
What the Body does with the Environmental Hazard
Risk Management Strategies
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Nanotechnology has both advantages and disadvantages to the environment and human beings. Human beings are largely exposed to the chemical particles released by the nuclear process. This poses a formidable problem because they can cause respiratory diseases such as lung cancer among others. Nanoparticles in the nuclear waste are easily absorbed by the human body leading to adverse effects of the respiratory system (Hull and Bowman 168).

The development of new technology has in the recent past resulted to the increased number of deaths. For instance, many people are dying of respiratory diseases due to chemical exposure. Some of these ultra-fine particles are emitted from natural processes such as volcanic smoke and forest fires. These ultra-fine particles have a substantial effect to both human beings and the environment (Hull and Bowman 168).

Hazard of Concern

The greatest concern is to reduce health effects caused by nanomaterials affecting individuals’ health and environmental safety. Radiation exposure especially in emergent countries has increased due to the use of cheap radioactive materials and less awareness of its risks. Exposure to the chemical is inherent given the fact that anthropogenic and natural ultra-fine particles are involved.

The capacity of nanoparticles that can be absorbed by the body to cause adverse effects is not known up to date. Therefore, it is vital to identify the chemical processes that are likely to cause health effects (Zhang 323).

Nuclear materials used to manufacture engineered nanomaterials such as electronic penetrate the human body without the consent of an individual. The combustion process of these materials is characterized by welding fumes and diesel exhaust which emits a considerable percentage of impurities in the atmosphere. These impurities are risky to the human health and the environment. Chemicals such as uranium oxide used in the mining process can be dangerous especially during its conversion to uranium hexafluoride (Zhang 323).

Risk Assessment Boundaries

Chemical exposure is likely to be high at the place of work where radioactive materials are commonly used. Areas of occupation such as hospitals, military camps and academic institutions are likely to facilitate radioactive exposure. Individuals that work in the nuclear waste management industries are exposed to impurities such as nitrogen found in the nitrogen fuels.

Consumers of nuclear wastes are also prone to the dangers associated with this environmental hazard. Scrap metal is commonly used to make cheap containers used by manufacturing Companies in the packaging. These metals contain radioactive chemicals that are harmful to the human health (Hull and Bowman 189).

The atmosphere in the workplace is highly concentrated with chemical emissions from these materials considered to other areas. As a result, high rates of chemical absorption and health effects are likely to be within the workplace environment. For instance, an individual dealing with welding materials is likely to be exposed to the fumes at the place of work compared to outside the workplace.

Combustion from vehicle engines contributes to serious environmental danger. Carbon emissions in the atmosphere lead to global warming by increasing the amount of carbon in the ozone layer. Wastes from chemical processes are drawn to the environment leading to environmental pollution (Zhang 330).

The Persons at Risk

Living organisms have defense mechanisms to prevent entry of these nanoparticles. Despite this, the particles penetrate the human body through the respiratory system causing health problems. Radioactive materials from nuclear processes are likely to be risky to the workers. The people that handle these chemicals are at a greater risk of having health problems because the rate of exposure is high (Hull and Bowman 190).

Workers in manufacturing industries are exposed to radiochemical on a regular basis hence increasing the percentage of nanoparticles inhaled. Just like the workers the general population is also at a risk of these chemical exposures. They live within the same environment where these manufacturing Companies are located hence increasing the rate of exposure.

The possible impact of nanomaterials on human beings and environment are vague. This is because the particles are absorbed in small amounts hence making it difficult to determine the quantifiable amount that leads to diverse health effects. Leakage of radioactive materials may occur during transportation hence making it difficult to clean the mess caused to the environment (Melfort 25).

Nuclear wastes are highly harmful to children and pregnant women. The impurities of these wastes affect the respiratory system which may lead to growth and formation process problems. They are at a higher risk because of their weak immune systems. Highly inclined people are also at a high risk of radioactive exposure because of their immune response.

For example, the respiratory system of asthmatic people is weak which may be prone strong radioactive emissions. Therefore, it is crucial for these individuals to take precautionary actions to prevent these health effects (Melfort 25).

Pathways and Routes of Exposure

Air

Chemical exposure is commonly caused by air. Living organisms’ cannot survives without air. Oxygen composition in the air molecules is fundamental for the survival of human beings. Thus when the chemicals circulate in the atmosphere they lead to a high percentage of concentration within the atmosphere.

The greatest contributors of air pollution are nanoparticles since they contain chemicals in them that are dangerous to the human health. Carbon emitted by ultra-particles such as engine emissions mixes with the oxygen in the air leading to pollution of the air inhaled. Air pollution is the principal cause of respiratory diseases such as lung cancer (Melfort 29).

Surface Water

The other pathway that facilitates exposure to nuclear wastage is through surface water. Improper disposal of these materials may flow into the lakes and rivers leading to water pollution. In most cases, improper disposal of these materials leads to pollution of domestic water. These wastes may also overflow in the rivers and lakes due to inevitable causes such as storms and heavy rains (Melfort 29).

The main route for nuclear waste impurities entrance into the human body is through ingestion. Once human beings consume water with deposits of radioactive materials, the impurities enter their bodies leading to chemical deposits. These chemicals also enter into the human body through contact with the skin.

The skin has small pores for respiration that makes it possible for non-particles to enter into the human body. The effect of these chemicals on the skin is characterized by irritation and itching which may further lead to dangerous skin disease (Melfort 29).

Food

The other route for radioactive exposure is food. Manufacturing Companies that produce canned beverages and food use containers made from scrap metal. The food stored in these containers has likelihood to exposure of these impurities. Once individuals consume these foods, they are likely to develop health problems depending on their immune response. Individuals with low immune system are likely to develop health problems within a short time compared to those with a strong immune system (Melfort 29).

What the Body does with the Environmental Hazard

Absorption

The human body has millions of small pores that facilitate the respiration process. During the respiration, the pores open up in order to allow removal and intake of gases. During this time, impurities within the body skin are absorbed directly hence entering the respiratory system. The human body also takes these impurities during inhalation. Once an individual inhales oxygen that has been polluted by these chemicals it is absorbed through the respiratory system (Hull and Bowman 191).

Distribution

Chemical materials from nuclear wastes move through the body system. Some of the impurities are deposited in the respiratory system where they cause infections. The chemicals affect the system portion by a portion until a time when it is worn out completely. During this time, the infection can lead to more complications such as cancer if no medical attention is taken (Hull and Bowman 191).

Metabolism

The environmental hazard is broken down by body chemicals for individuals with strong immune system. This is where the body acids form strong resistance to harmful chemicals through neutralization. The useful chemicals for the body are extracted whereas the rest are excreted through the respiratory system (Melfort 33).

Excretion

Excretion of these chemicals from the human body takes place through sweating, urination and other excretion methods. The body commonly uses the respiratory system to get rid of this chemical from the body. The excretion of these impurities takes place on a step by step process with the most dangerous chemicals being excreted first (Hull and Bowman 192).

Health Effects

Nuclear waste can cause lung cancer if not handled well. Radioactive chemicals involved in the waste management have a high potential of getting into the body through the respiratory system. Once they get into the body they cause lung infections hence leading to cancer. The infections caused in lungs by these chemicals can be cured if detected early. However, the percentage of chemical that leads to cancer infection is vague (Melfort 35).

Time taken to cause toxic effect

Exposure to radioactive chemical may take a long within an individual lifetime. This environmental hazard is chronic since it can take up to seven years of a person’s lifespan. This is because the infections of the body system take place at a slow pace. This can be attributed to the immune system that slows down the wearing out process by neutralizing the chemicals (Hull and Bowman 189).

Duration and Timing of Exposure

The exposure to this hazard depends on the living environment of an individual. People living in areas where nuclear materials are at their disposal is most likely to be affected. This is mainly because of continuous exposure to the environmental hazard leading to concentration of toxins in both the environment and body. As a result, individuals that are exposed to this hazard on a regular basis are more likely to suffer these toxic effects (Melfort 37).

Risk Management Strategies

From the above findings, it is evident that individuals may not be aware of the risks posed by nanotechnology materials. The fact that nanomaterials have safety risks to both individuals and the environment requires a precautionary approach to the problem. One of the strategies that can be used is through the creation of awareness.

Human beings need to be alerted on the harmful effect of these hazards and how to mitigate them. Alertness through the use of global environmental organizations would be most effective in order to reach the majority of individuals especially in the developing countries (Hull and Bowman 195).

Another strategy that can be used is manufacturing industries using these materials to treat them as if they were hazardous. Thus, workers will be capable of wearing protective garments when handling the chemicals. Since very little is known concerning the percentage of nanoparticles that cause health effect, disposal should be avoided.

Government regulations should also be imposed to reduce fortuitous disposal of these materials. Legal regulations will promote responsibility among the manufacturing Companies hence mitigating exposure risks. This way the environment and human beings are likely to have a safe atmosphere (Hull and Bowman 195).

Conclusion

Nanoparticles are perilous to both human health and environment. Nuclear waste causes radioactivity emissions, which cause health problems to individuals. The most common toxic effect of radioactivity exposure is cancer.

This is because the route for this chemical into the body is mainly the respiratory system. Once the chemicals enter the body system they cause infections to the respiratory system. However, the body also reacts through excretion hence reducing health risks. Therefore, it is vital to take the underlying precautions to mitigate these risks.

Works Cited

Hull, Matthew and Diana Bowman. Nanotechnology Environmental Health and Safety: Risks, Regulation and Management. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2009. Print.

Melfort, Warren. S. Nuclear Waste Disposal: Current Issues and Proposals. New York: Nova Publishers, 2003. Print.

Zhang, Wang. Nanoscale iron particles for environmental remediation: an overview, Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 5 (2003): 323-332. Print.

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